BAKING UP A BLAST IN THE NEW ASDC KITCHEN

Less than 10 years ago, parents of children with Down Syndrome in Cochabamba, Bolivia, could not find appropriate programming for their children. Now, the Asociacíón de Síndrome de Down Cochabamba (Down Syndrome Association of Cochabamba) is a bustling hive of activity. Children and youth are going to and fro, attending sessions in physiotherapy, rehabilitation, vision, speech, and music therapy. The volunteer parents who form the Board are now looking ahead to an even better, and butter-ier, future.

ASDC, as the site is known, was formed in 2014 by a group of parents who wanted more specialized care for their children's needs. Since its inception as a Chalice sponsor site, the number of youths coming for services has increased by more than 130%, demonstrating the high demand for these specialized therapies and programs.

The staff endeavor to make their programs as sociable as possible, because friendship and teamwork are the most effective and fun ways to foster communication, problem-solving, and personal development skills in the students.

A popular spot in the ASDC center is the kitchen. The youth learn to cook, bake, and make pastries. They also learn to cooperate, communicate, and adapt to challenges. When the final product is as enticing as cheese rolls, the students are eager to participate!

Thanks to everyone who gave a gift through Chalice's gift catalog, the ASDC was able to renovate its teaching kitchen. The bigger, brighter space will accommodate larger groups of learners in a professional-quality setting.

"The young people had the opportunity to meet with other young people they knew, with whom they soon shared greetings, laughter, jokes, and small games," describes Jhovana, a site worker. They played rock-paper-scissors to determine whose turn it was to add the next ingredient.

While the students are having fun and eating cheese rolls, they are also developing in-demand job skills and social skills that will prepare them for their future pursuits.

"The ASDC is extremely grateful to Chalice," writes Arq. Gonzalo, ASDC's president, "and blessed because we are allowed to grow. Thank you very much."